CONSPIRACY PROVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 12

CONSPIRACY PROVED

PLAN TO GET FORMULA THREAT AGAINST CHEMIST TWO MEN TO BE SENTENCED Charges of an unusual nature were preferred jointly against two men in the Supreme Court yesterday. The first count against Raymond Francis Woodley Grigg, electrician, aged 37, and David McArthur Todd, labourer, aged 46, was that about December 9 they conspired to commit a crime by threatening, with intent to extort from Frederick Edwards, a chemical formula, to accuse him of a certain crime. The second count charged them with being rogues and vagabonds, in that, being suspected persons, they frequented Carlton Gore Road and Parkfield Terrace with a felonious intent. The case was tried by Mr. Justice Herdman, Mr. Meredith prosecuting for the Crown. Mr. Singer appeared for Grigg and Mr. King for Todd.

The Crown Prosecutor said that the men attempted to extort a certain chemical formula from a chemist by blackmailing him with the threat of a criminal prosecution.

A chemist, Frederick Edwards, in business in Mount Eden Road, said he lived at 9 Parkfield Terrace, Grafton. He described a chemical mixture he had for cattle, which could also be used in a mild form by human beings. If used in strong form it would have a serious effect. Grigg came to him some nionths ago, posing as a married man, and obtained medicine for his wife. Early in December he noticed Grigg in the street outside his house, and later the accused Todd came to his house and asked for directions. A Trade Secret In answer to Mr. Sir.ger witness said the formula had originally been given him by a stockman as good for cattle. Asked "about the constituents of the medicine, witness said it was a trade seciet of his. By direction of His Honor he detailed the ingredients. Knud Larsen, a master mariner, said he had known Grigg for 10 or 12 years and Todd for a number of years. Grigg asked him if he wanted to earn £5 by approaching Edwards and getting a chemical formula from him. Witness said he would be one of a party to do so. It was arranged that Todd was to impersonate a detective and witness was to accompany him. Grigg handed over to Todd a typewritten document on blue paper, saying to Todd, "Fold it like this, and Edwards won't- bother looking for the magistrate's signature or anything else." If Todd and witness got the formula they were to give it to Grigg. On the night in question Todd went to the door, and Edwards' daughter said her father was not in. When the accused were going away they were accosted by detectives. Accomplice Helps Police Answering Mr. Singer, witness said it had been pre-arranged for him to run away from the police that night. He approached the police about a week after he had entered into an arrangement with Grigg. He got as far he could into Grigg's good graces so as to get information to give to the police. Mr. Singer: What were you last up for in Court ?—Witness: You know what I was up for. You defended me. Mr. Singer: What was the charge.— The magistrate dismissed tho charge and ;iaid that the records were to be wiped out. Answering further questions, witness said, "If I find any man committing a crime I would be the first one to run to the police with information." Mr. Singer put it to witness that he was the real author of the imitation legal document. "Seeing I cannot spell, cannot write, and have never been to school in my life," said witness, "it good of you to suggest I wrote that. In answer to Mr. King witness said he did not think Todd would have come into the scheme at all if it had not been for the sake of earning a few shillings. Watch Kept by Police

A watch kept on the movements of the accused in the vicinity of Edwards' house oarly in December was described by Detective T. W. Allsopp, who said he had found the Court document produced in Todd's possession. Similar evidence was given by Detectives Hamilton, Beltori and Knight, the latter of whom produced a letter found on Grigg, indicating that lie had been engaged on illegal activity. Instruments and equipment found at Griggs' rooms indicated the same thing. Mr. Singer invited the jury to treat tho case lightly, more or less as a joke. There was no evidence at all, apart from that of the witness Larsen, who was the worst type of accomplice. Mr. King argued that Todd had been brought into tho plot by Larsen and was entitled to a verdict of not guilty. After a retirement of less than 20 minutes the jury found both men guilty, with a recommendation to mercy for Todd. Sentence was deferred